A Boeing 787, one of the new Dreamliner aircraft that was flying from Denver to Tokyo, was diverted to Seattle due to an oil filter issue, according to a United Airlines spokeswoman.
The jet, United Flight 139, landed normally at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, where an airline maintenance team was inspecting it, said Mary Ryan, the spokeswoman for United, in an email statement sent to USA Today.
United Airlines started flying the Dreamliner again in May after a problem with the batteries on two 787s that were owned by other airlines, but which caused authorities to ground the planes in January.
The plane's problem was "completely unrelated to any battery issues," Kate Bergman, the spokesman for Boeing, told the Seattle Times on Tuesday evening. "We are aware of the situation, and we're working with United to help however they need us," Bergman continued.
The crew decided to land in Seattle because of "an indication of a problem with an oil filter," Ryan said in the statement.
Ryan didn't have any additional information regarding whether the latest problem with the Dreamliner raised any concerns with United after the previous battery issues.
United provided the approximately 200 passengers with hotel rooms and planned to fly them to Tokyo on Wednesday, Ryan said.
United said it planned to use the Dreamliner aircraft for shorter, domestic flights before resuming international flying on June 10 with the Denver to Tokyo route when it began flying the 787s again last month. They also planned to begin temporary Houston to London flights, later adding flights to Tokyo, Shanghai and Lagos, Nigeria, in August.
The 787 was designed for long flights. It's a medium sized aircraft and has good fuel efficiency, making it optimal for long trips.
Boeing received major orders for additional Dreamliner aircraft at the Paris Air Show on Tuesday. One of the orders was from United, who ordered a stretched-out version of the 787.
Currently, United Airlines is the only domestic airline to fly the 787, which is working to win back customers after the incidents with the batteries on two Japanese carriers. The aircraft uses lightweight materials and new engine technology to cut down on fuel consumption at a time if increasing fuel prices.
The 787 uses electricity and makes use of lithium-ion batteries to provide power for things like flight controls and a backup generator when the engines are shut down. Each aircraft has two batteries.
Boeing didn't figure out the cause of the battery incidents, but redesigned the battery and its charger to eliminate all possible causes, according to Mike Sinnett, the chief engineer of the 787.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
